Image Source: Sean Leahy
Key Takeaways:
- The Los Angeles Dodgers have become a "superteam" with the addition of Kyle Tucker to their already star-studded roster.
- The Dodgers’ ownership is willing to spend big money to attract top talent, with a payroll of over $400 million in 2025.
- The team’s roster features numerous potential Hall of Famers, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.
- The Dodgers are compared to other "superteams" in baseball history, including the 1927 New York Yankees and the 1972-74 Oakland A’s.
- The team’s success is not limited to baseball, as other sports have seen their own "superteams" in recent decades, including the 2007 New England Patriots and the 2012-13 Miami Heat.
Introduction to Superteams
The Los Angeles Dodgers have solidified their position as a "superteam" in Major League Baseball with the signing of Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract. This move adds to an already impressive roster that includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, among others. As noted in the article, "Ownership is able to spend money — more than double that of over half of MLB. That has led to L.A. being a prime destination for free agents looking to contend for a World Series while also cashing in." This willingness to spend has led to the Dodgers becoming a dominant force in baseball, with back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.
Historical Superteams
The Dodgers’ current roster is often compared to other "superteams" in baseball history. One such team is the 1927 New York Yankees, who featured a lineup known as "Murderers’ Row" and included legendary players like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. As the article notes, "Ruth broke his own MLB home run record set in 1921 by hitting 60. Gehrig would hit 47 and also record 173 RBI while batting.373 en route to the first of two MVP awards." This team’s success was unprecedented, with a plus-376 run differential and a World Series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Another notable "superteam" is the 1972-74 Oakland A’s, who won three consecutive World Series titles with a roster built through a combination of drafting and signing key players like Reggie Jackson and Vida Blue.
Modern-Day Superteams
The Dodgers’ current roster is also compared to other successful teams in recent baseball history, including the 2009 New York Yankees. As the article notes, "The ‘Evil Empire’ was not shy about spending money to secure talent to compete. That’s how George Steinbrenner operated." This team featured a star-studded roster that included CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, and went on to win the World Series in 2009. The Dodgers’ own success in 2024 and 2025 is also notable, with a payroll of over $400 million in 2025 and a roster that features numerous potential Hall of Famers.
The 2026 Season
As the Dodgers look to the 2026 season, they will be seeking to continue their dominance with a roster that still features many of the same stars, including Ohtani, Freeman, and Betts. However, the team has taken a more measured approach to free agency this offseason, signing only four major league contracts, including the deal with Tucker. As the article notes, "It’s still a roster that has the likes of Ohtani, Freeman, Blake Snell, Betts, Yamamoto, Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow, to go along with the newly signed Tucker. That means even more pressure to achieve a three-peat to make the money spent worth it."
Superteams Across Sports
The concept of a "superteam" is not unique to baseball, as other sports have seen their own dominant teams in recent decades. The article notes several examples, including the 2007 New England Patriots, who featured a high-powered offense led by Tom Brady and Randy Moss, and the 2012-13 Miami Heat, who won back-to-back NBA championships with a roster that included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. As the article notes, "The sports world has seen plenty of other superteams in previous decades. Here are a few from this century, for honorable mention…" These teams demonstrate that the idea of a "superteam" is not limited to baseball, but can be applied to any sport where a team is able to assemble a roster of talented players and achieve sustained success.
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/how-2026-dodgers-compare-to-some-of-baseballs-other-superteams-154129269.html
